Prince died of Aids and had been preparing for his death “for a while,” it has been reported.

The Purple Rain singer, a Jehovah’s Witness, was diagnosed with the condition six months before his sudden death, according to the National Enquirer.

The singer “had been preparing to die for a while,” and his weight had plummeted to just 80lbs, a source told the American tabloid.

He is also alleged to have refused medical treatment, saying “God can cure me,” according to the National Enquirer’s front page story on the affair.

“Doctors told Prince his blood count was unusually low and that his body temperature had dropped dangerously below the normal 98.6 degrees to 94 degrees,” they said.

“He was totally iron-deficient, very weak and often disoriented. He rarely ate and when he did, it all came right back up.

“His face was yellowish, the skin on his neck was hanging off and the tips of fingers were a brownish-yellow,” they added.

It was also reported that Prince was seen making runs to a local pharmacy shortly before his death to pick up treatment for what is believed to have been a painful and severe case of influenza.

“We were all just shocked that he came in last night looking so beat. We said, ‘We are praying for you,” a source told the National Enquirer.

“He said, almost under his breath, ‘Maybe if you prayed for me a year ago it’d be different right now.”

Then he waved and said thanks anyway,” they added.

It comes as sources close to the investigation into the circumstances of Prince’s death said he was in possession of prescription painkillers when he passed away.

According to CNN and the Star Tribune, the painkillers were found on Prince shortly after his death aged 57 at his home in Minneapolis.

The reports were based on anonymous police sources.

The National Enquirer has also claimed that Prince suffered from an addiction to Percoet, which he was using to try and dull his pain during the final stages of his life.

However, L. Londell McMillan, who knew Prince for 25 years and at once point worked as his manager denies this and insists the singer did not have addiction issues.

HIV is a virus which attacks the immune system and weakens the body’s ability to fight diseases.

It is most commonly caught through unprotected sex, but can also be transmitted by sharing needles.

Though there is no cure, anti-viral drugs allow most sufferers who take them to live lengthy and healthy lives.

It can however develop into Aids, a more seriously and potentially fatal condition where the body is too weak to fight off infections.

The National Enquirer claims Prince was diagnosed with HIV back in the 1990s, but it developed into Aids at the end of last year.

A statement from Prince’s family and friend’s issued shortly after his death said it was caused by influenza, an illness which could prove fatal to an Aids sufferer due to their weakened immune defences.